PARIS (FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2017) - The FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2017 will be Herve Coudray's head coaching debut for men's youth teams.

But the new France U19 boss has plenty of high-level experience upon which to call when he leads his team to Cairo.

Coudray was handed the reins of the FIBA U18 European Championship 2016 winners after the coach of that side, Tahar Assed, took over as the head of the Centre Federal de BasketBall (CFBB).

"It is an honour to have been chosen by the French Federation, President Jean-Pierre Siutat and Patrick Beesley, the national technical director, to lead the U19 men's national team," the 51-year-old said. "I really want to thank them for this trust and recognition."

France in December won the FIBA U18 European Championship for the first time since 2006 and with it booked a ticket to the U19 global spectacle for the first time since 2009. The French have been drawn into Group A with Korea, New Zealand and a team from FIBA Americas.

Coudray is just beginning to establish his name in the men's game - working in his fourth season with the third division NM1 club Caen Basket Calvados, which he brought up from the fourth flight NM2 in 2015.

Herve Coudray established his name in basketball by coaching women's basketball. He is seen here during his time in charge of USO Mondeville.

The Fougeres native made a name for himself in the basketball business as a women's coach. After serving as assistant on various French women's senior and youth national teams, he served as head coach in the French women's league for more than 10 years until 2012 with many participations in the EuroLeague Women and EuroCup Women including with USO Mondeville. He was twice named the French league’s Coach of the Year award.

Coudray also coached Mali's senior women's national team at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2010 and then guided them to a 3rd-place finish at the FIBA Women' AfroBasket the following year.

"Having already participated in a FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, I was able to gain experience. I know the stress, the efforts we must make and the rhythm of a Basketball World Cup," Coudray said. "It is a huge chance for a coach to be at these world competitions."

With women's teams, you have to speak more with the players to develop their aggressiveness. Women play more for the team than individually. With men, you have to control this aggressiveness and help them to understand they need to play together, to play for the open player and not only one-on-one." - Coudray

Coudray said there are many similarities to coaching women and men, especially helping them to be confident and give the best for the team. But there is also a big difference.

"With women's teams, you have to speak more with the players to develop their aggressiveness. Women play more for the team than individually. With men, you have to control this aggressiveness and help them to understand they need to play together, to play for the open player and not only one-on-one," he pointed out.

Coudray also said coaching both men and women has helped him develop himself more as a coach, learning how to deal differently with areas such as psychology, leadership, techniques and tactics.

And now his next big task comes in the shape of the 16-team event taking place in Egypt's capital of Cairo from 1-9 July.

"The challenge with the national team is exciting and with all the staff, we wish to prepare as best as possible for the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup," Coudray said.

FIBA